By Joey Flamm (APRN, FNP-C), Director of Integrative Wellness, Level
Healthcare as an industry, and a practice, has seen some major transformations over the past few years and it’s largely thanks to advancements in technology—from wearable health trackers like WHOOP, to telehealth services that allow for at-home virtual consultations with your doctor.
The common thread here is having access to comprehensive, rich sets of healthcare data that connect all of the dots. Combining and analyzing this different data allows us to have a more informed, integrated snapshot of our health based on historical data, family history, along with individual lifestyle choices and behavioral factors.
Defining holistic, whole-body health and wellness
This is important as we each have a complex interplay of unique factors that impact and inform our overall health and wellness. Differences in biology (e.g. metabolic rates and hormone levels), lifestyle choices (e.g. nutrition and sleep patterns), environmental influences (e.g. work-related stress and social support networks), as well as psychological factors (e.g. personality traits and mental health) are all interconnected. Together, they paint a picture of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go on our health and wellness journey.
This is the crux of holistic healthcare. It’s not about one specific technique or set of practices—it’s an altogether different approach to healthcare. Part of the problem is that the term ‘holistic’ can mean different things to different people so for the purposes of this article, I’ll refer to it as ‘whole-body health’.
Whole-body health looks at the entire system (i.e. our body) versus isolated, disparate factors (i.e. treating symptoms, not the underlying cause). The ultimate goal of whole-body health is finding balance through natural, complementary assessments paired up with conventional healthcare practices to determine root causes.
I’ll also point out that aesthetics are absolutely part of this equation—they connect our inner well-being with our outer appearance. Feeling good and looking good often go hand-in-hand so when we look (and feel) our best, it boosts our confidence, self-esteem, and increases our overall motivation to stay on track.
Concierge medicine is taking the country by storm
Enter concierge medicine, which is firmly rooted in holistic, whole-body health and wellness. Concierge care isn’t new but it’s skyrocketed in recent years with major metro areas like NYC, LA, Chicago, and San Francisco leading the charge with several, established concierge practices. In fact, the U.S. concierge medicine market was valued at $7.35B in 2024 and is projected to grow annually at a rate of 10% over the next four years. It’s no surprise then that the number of concierge wellness centers in the U.S. grew by 83.1 percent from 2018 to 2023, and the number of clinicians working in them went up by 78.4 percent.
Now, as the demand for concierge medicine spreads to mid-sized cities, suburbs, and smaller towns, it’s evolving and becoming more accessible. And while it’s traditionally been defined as medical care from a provider that doesn’t take health insurance, that’s starting to change as concierge medicine expands into these different markets. Hybrid models have emerged that blend insurance billing with concierge memberships, giving middle-income patients access to top-notch care without excessive fees.
Millennials and Gen Z’ers are big drivers of the concierge trend as they explore science-backed, evidence-based whole-body wellness to meet their specific needs. They see immense value with the in-depth, personalized services that these concierge centers provide all under one roof—from sleep assessments and microneedling, to nutritional consultation and strength training.
Joe Flamm
Nashville: the healthcare (innovation) capital of the south
Also called concierge care, boutique medicine, or membership medicine, concierge medicine is becoming more prevalent here in Nashville. And that’s no coincidence. Nashville planted its healthcare roots back in the 1960s—not long after Medicaid and Medicare were established—followed by the founding of three major healthcare companies: HCA Healthcare, Hospital Affiliates International, and General Care Corp.
Nashville is also home to more than half of the privately-owned hospital beds in the country, a staggering statistic that illustrates just how influential this city has become for quality patient care. And with other big players like Community Health Systems in Franklin and National HealthCare Corporation in Murfreesboro, the Nashville metro area has developed into a healthcare powerhouse.
In addition to this robust healthcare infrastructure, Nashville has fostered a unique culture of healthcare innovation and collaboration over the decades thanks to the city’s concentration of major providers, its academic footprint, and entrepreneurial spirit—and this integrated network is extensive. Founded 30 years ago, the Nashville Health Care Council (NHCC) alone represents a network of more than 900 healthcare companies, organizations, and professional firms. We also have a vast network of VC firms as well as public-private partnerships like Launch Tennessee to fund and support startups.
So while concierge medicine is booming in big cities and across the country, Nashville is ripe—and ready—for this whole-body approach to health and wellness. Our experience and reputation as an established healthcare hub, supported by our network of corporate and independent health leaders, has set the stage for concierge medicine to take root and flourish in the Music City—perhaps more than any other growing, mid-sized city in the U.S.
Level, Nashville
For additional reading and information, check out these helpful resources:
- AARP: What to Know About Concierge Medicine
- McKinsey & Company: The $2 trillion global wellness market gets a millennial and Gen Z glow-up
- PartnerMD: Concierge Medicine vs. Primary Care: 4 Differences Explained by a Doctor
About the author
Joey Flamm (APRN, FNP-C) is the Director of Integrative Wellness at Level where he leverages his expertise as a Nurse Practitioner to approach patient-care in a comprehensive and holistic manner, aiming to provide all-encompassing improvements across the board.
Prior to Level, Joey was the owner and provider at Run Aesthetics, a medical-grade aesthetics clinic, where he was also nominated for the best Nurse Practitioner in Robertson county, TN thanks to his passion and commitment to prioritizing patient care.
Joey has his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bethel University where he graduated with honors. He also holds a Master of Science in Nursing as well as a Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Union University.
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